Help us open Porch Light Literary Center

Hi,

I'm Jenny, and here are some things I’ve learned about writing and art.

It takes a community to make an artist.

Writing flourishes in culturally diverse and interdisciplinary environments.

Literature and art can be tools for social change.

This is not a story of lone genius. I was lucky to grow up in a family of artists. And lucky to attend a de-segregation art magnet that bussed white suburban kids to a predominantly Latinx down town campus. Here we found common ground through art, gained our first glimmers of agency, learned to project ourselves through performance, and reframe social interactions through writing and visual art. Here, my friends introduced me to the Latina writers who would inspire me to become a writer myself.

In this environment I learned that my voice could be one people listened to. It's this early confidence that pushed me through a 90’s writing culture that was blind and tone deaf to writing by minorities and women. It helped me push through an MFA, a PHD and to continue to write through the birth of my two children. It helped me move through a growing disenchantment with academics; teaching creative writing to hand over my paycheck to childcare; proposing outreach and interdisciplinary courses to be told there was no infrastructure or money to implement them.

When my family landed in Iowa City, nine years ago, I saw a chance to make a change. I saw this burgeoning art community and fell in love with the inclusive and interdisciplinary spirit of spaces like PS1, Riverside, Flimscene and programs like the Mission Creek and Iowa Arts Festival. Here was a city where art could thrive in its intersectional and interdisciplinary glory. I felt I’d come full circle.

We all know Iowa City has a rich history of literature driven by the University of Iowa’s many academic writing programs. But did you know it also has a rich history of visual, intermedia and book arts? I wanted to create something in the community that tapped into these resources and put them in conversation. The result was PromptPress , a publication for collaborations between visual artist, book artists and writers. We are now in our seventh year.

Around the time Prompt launched its first book, I joined forces with Lisa Roberts and The Free Generative Writing Workshops This non-traditional workshop allows people of all ages, identities and levels of income to practice alongside some of the amazing creative writing talent that moves through Iowa City.

Now I have the opportunity to give these organizations a home and to open our doors to two more wonderful organizations. I have the opportunity to create an interdisciplinary and outreach oriented literary center, to build for others the kind of space that nurtured me.

Opening on September 1st, Porch Light will offer:

• low-cost office space to Antelope Lending Library , Iowa City Poetry and IC Speaks , organizations that broaden the scope of literary practice and work to increase access to literary programming.

• provide sustainable rent to one interdisciplinary printmaker, and a residency space for Iowa City art organizations with established residencies.

• open a community salon, a space to connect with critique or book groups, sit with a cup of coffee, and find information about the rich array of literary happenings inside our City of Literature.

To do this we need your support. Right now we are racing to renovating one of the oldest houses on Washington St. We’re building a wheelchair ramp, opening walls, gutting a kitchen and turning an apartment into a co-working suite for our non-profits. Your donations will help us finish our renovations, and help support our community salon during its first months.

Please visit our website from more information: http://porchlightliterary.org

Porch Light is a 501 (3) c organization. All donations are tax deductible.